How do we help our seniors manage their emotions and live healthy?

Doctors say it, coaches say it, just about every self-help book out there says it: holistic care needs to include the following:

1—Exercise and Physical Activity

Exercise is how one can release/produce serotonin in the body. Serotonin is the body’s natural ‘happy chemical’. It stimulates energy, creativity, laughter, happiness, and much more.

Keeping the body strong enables a person to move with more ease and improves their balance.  Walking, leg lifts, yoga, and lifting light weights are wonderfully helpful when possible. Walking is the best and the easiest form of exercise. 

Learn more about our Physical Activity Program.

2—Hydration

The body is over 70% water; water hydrates everything and keeps the body healthy just like it keeps a plant healthy.

Coffee, sugary drinks, soft drinks, etc… all of these things dehydrate the body. Yet 90% of our society is primarily consuming these drinks without properly re-hydrating the body with water. For example, coffee often will make one urinate, but that is because it is pushing the water out of the body (hence, dehydrating).

3—Nutrition: Yummy & Healthy Food

Good food helps the body fight off infection, both from bacteria and virally.

Healthy food can be DELICIOUS!! The key is preparing meals from whole foods, not from packages. For example, using real potatoes instead of boxed, instant potatoes. Or quality whole grain bread vs. white bread (which acts like paste in the intestinal tract).

There is still room for dessert! Just have a proper meal first. And eliminate 60% of junk food.  Junk food is not a meal, it is an occasional, light snack.

4—Socializing with Family & Friends

Connecting with other people or pets also promotes happiness and well being. Those who feel ‘alone’ are more likely to suffer from depression.

Regular family visits and/or meals together with others are highly favored. If visits are not possible, phone calls and video calls with family can substitute as a way to interact.

Regular activities shared with friends boost serotonin as well.

5—Intellectual Activities

It is common that as people age they watch more and more television. TV can be an informative, healthy and fun activity in moderation, but not when it becomes the primary activity of one’s daily life.

Try to incorporate activities like cooking, playing games, doing puzzles, creating art, or reading. We can help to facilitate your favorite hobbies!

Intellectual activities help memory, are fun, encourage a sense of fulfillment and reduce stress.

6—Having a Purpose

Seniors have value and they need to feel valued. They have a wealth of wisdom collected throughout their lives. They still need to have purpose. Seniors are great advisors, problem solvers, recipe and craft experts and so much more. They are prime teachers, especially for their grandchildren. Find ways for them to contribute to those around them.

7—Alternative Medicine (optional)

At Connecting Hearts Home Care we have a list of preferred care providers that we can recommend if you would like to try alternative medicine and homeopathic options. These can include methods like reiki, geriatric massage, and acupuncture.